I'm bringing the kids and grandkids to the Alabama game Saturday. Got GA tickets and plan to sit on the lawn. Can anyone tell me if lawn chairs are allowed? Blankets? Any general suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Blankets, yes. Chairs, no.

Bring a baseball glove. No protection from the expanded nets. Of course, the expanded nets haven't protected ANYONE yet this year.

If you get too close to a fence or too far down a hill, the fences will obstruct your view of the infield and plate. If you can, try and get there in time to find a spot higher up on the hill where you can all check and make sure you have a good view of the game.

Also, if you sit in right field then you'll be closer to Spencer's corner where the kids can play when they get bored of the game.

Thanks everyone. I knew I could get the best info right here on Texags.

Is it just me or does anyone else think the lawn berms were a horrible idea? Would it have just been to egregious to A&M's way of doing things to let people have chair backed seats without paying out the ass?

I think if you have young kids and it's not very crowded the berms could be ok .. Other than that you couldn't pay me to sit there.

I hate the berms. Period.

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Is it just me or does anyone else think the lawn berms were a horrible idea? Would it have just been to egregious to A&M's way of doing things to let people have chair backed seats without paying out the ass?

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So, we should build the grandstand large enough that we have an over supply of seats for most games? That's not good economics. We built a park the size that we could reasonably expect to sell as season tickets, then provided 1000 GA seats, and the berm for overflow.

We used to have cheap bleacher seating--it went unused most of the time. If you've watched any MSU games, you can see how having an abundance of bleacher seats makes it looks like fan interest is low (and provides some pretty crappy viewing experience, as I can attest from personal knowledge). It also suppressed our season ticket sales--folks didn't see the need to buy season tickets if they could buy tickets to the individual games that they really wanted to attend.

There are lots of seats in Olsen that do not "cost out the ass". My season tickets in 209 average about $10 a game over the 36 home game schedule- with no 12th Man donation required. I consider that pretty reasonable.

There was a committee that visited every college facility built or upgraded in the previous five years or so before we drew up to a plans. They also visited a number of newer minor league stadiums.

The number of chair back seats was based on average attendance plus a fudge factor for growth. The seems about right for almost every game. While Aggue baseball is big here, it is not supported anywhere near like it is at LSU, Arkansas, Miss State, etc.

The berms were added to make the stadium more family friendly- as well as adding the play ground area. They are a way to let families come to games, the kids can move around without bothering anyone.

No one is required to sit on the berms, use the chairs and tables above the berms, etc. so I if someone doesn't like them the shouldn't sit on them.

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Is it just me or does anyone else think the lawn berms were a horrible idea? Would it have just been to egregious to A&M's way of doing things to let people have chair backed seats without paying out the ass?

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So, we should build the grandstand large enough that we have an over supply of seats for most games? That's not good economics. We built a park the size that we could reasonably expect to sell as season tickets, then provided 1000 GA seats, and the berm for overflow.

We used to have cheap bleacher seating--it went unused most of the time. If you've watched any MSU games, you can see how having an abundance of bleacher seats makes it looks like fan interest is low (and provides some pretty crappy viewing experience, as I can attest from personal knowledge). It also suppressed our season ticket sales--folks didn't see the need to buy season tickets if they could buy tickets to the individual games that they really wanted to attend.

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I didn't say anything about bleachers. I suggested chair back seats should've gone in where the berms did. You'd have the same capacity as you do now more or less so I don't see why it would affect the economics of it. A grass berm area would be great for the outfield.

I was in 102 row 2. The nets have been useless, until Tuesday night. That ball was a screamer straight to me.

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Is it just me or does anyone else think the lawn berms were a horrible idea? Would it have just been to egregious to A&M's way of doing things to let people have chair backed seats without paying out the ass?

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So, we should build the grandstand large enough that we have an over supply of seats for most games? That's not good economics. We built a park the size that we could reasonably expect to sell as season tickets, then provided 1000 GA seats, and the berm for overflow.

We used to have cheap bleacher seating--it went unused most of the time. If you've watched any MSU games, you can see how having an abundance of bleacher seats makes it looks like fan interest is low (and provides some pretty crappy viewing experience, as I can attest from personal knowledge). It also suppressed our season ticket sales--folks didn't see the need to buy season tickets if they could buy tickets to the individual games that they really wanted to attend.

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I didn't say anything about bleachers. I suggested chair back seats should've gone in where the berms did. You'd have the same capacity as you do now more or less so I don't see why it would affect the economics of it. A grass berm area would be great for the outfield.

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There isn't the demand for those seatbacks.

There isn't?

There are 3 of us on this thread alone that think the berms suck.

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Their isn't?

There are 3 of us on this thread alone that think the berms suck.

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And?

So they should build, what 12 seats?

Olsen didn't sell out most games before the renovation in the last decade.
Seatbacks in the berm aren't going to sell out now.

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Their isn't?

There are 3 of us on this thread alone that think the berms suck.

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We should have built 3 seats instead of the berms....

So you'd honestly rather sit on a grass hill than in a seat?

I sure as hell wouldn't

There are at least three seats above the right field berm and several tables and chairs above the left field berm. You three guys oughta be happy?

There wasn't demand for two hills either. The games where the hills are full are the games where seats would have been full.

One hill was fine, two at the expense of actual seating capacity was ridiculous.

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So you'd honestly rather sit on a grass hill than in a seat?

I sure as hell wouldn't

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How many games have you been to this season? How many additional would you have gone to if there were chair back seats instead of the berms?

1) there was nowhere near the current demand when they reno'd the stadium

2) there still isn't major demand as you can go on flashseats most every weekend save 3 each season and get reserved seating at or very close to face value

3) there are plans to expand in the future once the rec is done and softball/track are taken care of, so I've heard.

4) any serious baseball fan who wants a good seat can purchase one or get there early and sit in GA up top in the 200's.

5) There is serious demand to go sit on the berms judging by the incredible increase of attractive female coeds coming to the games in droves. And what do ya know, others tend to want to go sit near those girls too. That wasnt the case when you had a massive metal oven in RF with horrible sight lines.

tl;dr, the berms were perfectly fine and acceptable WHEN the decision was made based off demand at the time and even room for growth. If the ags slip just a little and go back to not hosting regionals or being top 10, you'll see empty reserved seats all over the place again.

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So you'd honestly rather sit on a grass hill than in a seat?

I sure as hell wouldn't

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No, but when I lived there I coughed up the money for 3 season tickets.

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5) There is serious demand to go sit on the berms judging by the incredible increase of attractive female coeds coming to the games in droves. And what do ya know, others tend to want to go sit near those girls too. That wasnt the case when you had a massive metal oven in RF with horrible sight lines.

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Actually, I seem to remember quite a few girls sunbathing out in the right field bleachers during games. Got a lot of good direct and reflected sunlight out there.

There obviously was demand.

There were email surveys that went out at least twice- maybe more discussing amenities and options.

There were focus group meetings across the state. There was one maybe two in Houston. I attended one at Minute Maid where we had steaks behind home plate and presentations were made regarding ideas and plans- and of course how we could donate. they were met with resounding support and approvals.

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Is it just me or does anyone else think the lawn berms were a horrible idea? Would it have just been to egregious to A&M's way of doing things to let people have chair backed seats without paying out the ass?

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So, we should build the grandstand large enough that we have an over supply of seats for most games? That's not good economics. We built a park the size that we could reasonably expect to sell as season tickets, then provided 1000 GA seats, and the berm for overflow.

We used to have cheap bleacher seating--it went unused most of the time. If you've watched any MSU games, you can see how having an abundance of bleacher seats makes it looks like fan interest is low (and provides some pretty crappy viewing experience, as I can attest from personal knowledge). It also suppressed our season ticket sales--folks didn't see the need to buy season tickets if they could buy tickets to the individual games that they really wanted to attend.

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Not good economics? You don't build a stadium to meet average demand. You build capacity to meet maximum expected demand. How many times is the average MLB park sold out? And what made the Blue Bell project a head scratcher, since you brought up economics, is spending $20+ million on a facility where you shrink the capacity of seats by 3,000 and replace it with a grass hill. Word circulating is the university is already looking to expand the ball park and are proposing to put permanent seating on the 3rd base berm..

I could understand the devolution of this thread if the OP's title had been "LAWNS RULE!!!"

I say leave the berms, expand seating to aggie alley.

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I say leave the berms, expand seating to aggie alley.

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This. If they want to bring back the best environment in college baseball, every game needs to be a party. Raise ground level on the outside of the outfield wall where you can see over the fence while standing and lets bring back the party.

The berms were the brain child of Dollar Bill and supported by Coach Rob and the TMF. They allow cheap seats, family area and look a lot better than empty seats during the games that are not sold out. But, the most important function of the berms is they force most people to buy more expensive seats rather than settle for the cheap seats. That is where the economics come into play. At the time the renovation was being planned, attendance was down, less seats created more demand to buy higher priced seats. Couple this with the new suite revenue and the ball park could make more money than the old layout with half the people in the ballpark. Selling berm seating and standing room only tickets then became gravy on top of the revenue.

The demand that matters is the demand for season tickets. With the team playing well the last couple of years, the demand is SLIGHTLY greater than current capacity allows. But, if results drop off at all, that won't be a problem.

We could probably average 8000 for conference play if we had the capacity, but we might actually make less money because marginal season ticket buyers, who only purchase seats now to ensure that they have seats for big games, would instead opt for single game tickets.

If they want to convert the 3rd base berm to armchairs, that would probably only add about 500 seats, and not throw off the balance. But adding a substantial number of permanent seats would not be smart. I could see them doing some kind of outfield terrace or berm, too, as extra been seating would not flood the supply of the season ticket market. But Olsen doesn't need 7000 seats any more than I would need 3 cars--what looks to some as an asset would actually end up being a liability.

And yet baseball still loses a ton of money- in the $5-700+K range

The remodel was for the big XII, they season ticket demand was going the wrong direction before the remodel. They would let students sit on the third base side if a bunch showed because nobody was buying those reserved seats.

Also the plans with doing something in the outfield where there, Olsen was going to be in phases because they didn't have the money. They'd had milked the donors for the indoor stud across the street and Reed. They got some donation and then Blue Bell to do what we have all at once. They dropped the outfield stuff figuring they could do it later if the money was there. Agsin they where thinking big XII money, not SEC money.

I know it sucks for single game goers, you want to walk up and buy tickets, but they're sold out.

My issues are the season ticket holders thst never use their seats. But that's another thread